Skin Mole (Nevus), A Simple Guide To The Condition, Diagnosis, Treatment And Related Conditions

A skin mole (nevus) is a medical disorder that can be a pigmented birthmark or colored skin swelling that develops before or shortly after birth.
Benign formation skin patches that occur later in life are called ‘acquired’ moles.
Moles may be derived from the outside layers of the skin (epithelial nevi) or from the deeper layers (dermal or subcutaneous nevi).
Moles are further categorized based on the cell type affected.
Melanocytic and vascular moles are normally the most frequent forms of birthmarks.
Almost every person has a few moles
Types of Moles:
Congenital mole
When a person is born with a mole, the mole is called a congenital mole.
Roughly, 1 out of 100 people is born with a mole.
These moles range in size from small to giant.
Having giant congenital moles make higher a person’s danger of forming melanoma.
Spitz nevus
This mole frequently appears like melanoma.
It is so closely similar to melanoma that a dermatologist cannot identify it just by looking at it.
That is because this mole is frequently pink, raised, and dome-shaped.
It also can have different colors in it such as red, black, and brown.
The Spitz mole may bleed.
Most Spitz nevi occur on the skin during the first 20 years of life.
Acquired mole
When a mole occurs on the skin after a person is born, it is called an acquired mole.
Many persons who have light skin often have about 10 to 40 of these moles.
Atypical moles:
The skin cancer melanoma can proliferate in an atypical mole.
A person who has atypical moles should monitor his or her moles for change.
Atypical mole (dysplastic)
This form of mole can look like melanoma.
It is not melanoma.
They may occur on the scalp, head, and neck.
Atypical moles seldom occur on the face
But the patient has a higher danger of getting melanoma if the patient has:
1. 4 or more atypical moles.
2. Already had a melanoma.
3. A first-degree relative (parent, child or brother, sister) who had melanoma.
Familial atypical multiple mole-melanoma (FAMMM) syndrome.
People with FAMMM syndrome have:
1. Many moles — more than 50.
2. Some moles that is atypical.
3. A blood relative who has (or had) melanoma
Diagnosis is normally made based on the appearance of the skin swelling.
Biopsy of the lesion may be helpful for suspicious lesions
Normally no treatment is required for the mole itself.
Large birthmarks that can involve the appearance and self-esteem may be camouflaged with special cosmetics.
The danger of malignant changes in small and moderate-sized lesions is probably too small as to require more than reassurance alone
Surgical excision can be done if:
1. Bothers a patient (rubs against clothing, etc.).
2. A patient finds unattractive.
3. Could be skin cancer
TABLE OF CONTENT
Introduction
Chapter 1 Skin Mole
Chapter 2 Causes
Chapter 3 Symptoms
Chapter 4 Diagnosis
Chapter 5 Treatment
Chapter 6 Prognosis
Chapter 7 Hemangioma
Chapter 8 Birthmarks
Epilogue

Just 1 week ago I have a patient who brought her niece to my clinic for a removal of the mole on her nose.
Normally if the mole is small and on an inconspicuous part of her body, I will do the removal of her mole.
But because it is a mole that is on the nose which is on the conspicuous part of her face and it has been removed before but recurred I would rather that she either be referred to a dermatologist or a cosmetic surgeon to ensure there is no scar left on her face after the surgery.
I also want to ensure there is no evidence of melanoma as a result of the mole.
I have seen cases of small mole that was found to be malignant after a surgical removal.